What You’ll Learn:
In this guide to boosting your home’s curbappeal, we’ll cover:
● What is curb appeal, and why it’s important
● Quick and easy ways to add curbappeal to any home
● Ideas for creating a custom exterior look
In every neighborhood, there’s always at least one house that you can’t help but admire every time you drive by. No matter what exterior style, landscaping, or paint colors you prefer, curb appeal is a universal language that everyone can understand.
Curb appeal is more than just the way that a house looks, but also what its appearance says about the property itself. Ultimately, the goal is for a home’s exterior and landscaping to clearly show that it is well-cared for and well-loved. Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want to make some high-impact improvements, investing in curb appeal is one of the smartest decisions you can make.
What is curb appeal?
So, what exactly is curb appeal? In simplest terms, it’s the attractiveness of your property from the viewpoint of someone standing in the street in front of it. It’s what gives visitors and passersby -and even potential buyers - their first impression of your home long before they step through the front door.
Why is curb appeal important?
According to RealtorⓇ Magazine, homes with good curb appeal typically sell for an average of 7% more than comparable homes without attractive exteriors. And when you’re trying to sell a house in a slow market, you could get up to 14% more - when it comes to home improvement efforts, that’s an impressive return on investment.
But aside from potentially increasing home value, curb appeal can also be a wonderful way to love and appreciate a house you don’t plan to sell anytime soon. After all, who doesn’t want to feel as if they’re being warmly welcomed by a lovely exterior every time they come home?
At Kline Exteriors, we firmly believe that you should love where you live. And whether you are considering listing your home for sale or staying in it for generations to come, making some simple exterior improvements can completely transform the look and feel of your property.
We’ve put together a useful guide to creating curb appeal, with ideas that range from easy DIY projects you can tackle this weekend to larger projects our experienced team can manage. Using these tips and tricks, you’ll be turning your house into a home in no time.
Ideas to Enhance Curb Appeal
1. Replace your existing front door with something new.
Depending on the architectural style of your home, both your garage and front doors may be facing the street. If that’s the case, it’s all too easy for the large garage door to dominate the view - and asa result, your front door ends up looking like an afterthought.
However, with an attention-grabbing color or design, your front door can reclaim its rightful spot as the focal point of your home’s exterior. If you love the current shape or style of your door, you can change up the color for the cost of a can of paint. Consider going bold with a vibrant shade such as lemon yellow, brick red, navy blue, or hunter green. Or, if your style leans more neutral, search for a rich hue that complements the other colors of your home.
If your front door has seen better days, or you don’t particularly like the way it looks, it may be time to replace it. Not only can a new front door completely change the look of your home, but it can also improve energy efficiency and comfort.
2. Break up a monotonous, flat-front exterior with texture.
Flat-front homes are very common, whether they’re built with brick, stucco, siding, or stucco. And even though this basic design looks just fine as is, it doesn’t exactly make a style statement.
But, you can easily add visual interest and help your home stand out with the addition of texture. Elements such as vertical or narrow siding panels and trim, decorative shutters, and stonework will take your home from bland and boring, to beautiful. You might be surprised at how well these accents can introduce a sense of character and personality into your home.
3. Upgrade to a new garage door.
Does your home still have the builder-basic garage door from the original construction? If so, you have a great opportunity to create curb appeal with relatively low effort. Depending on the style of your home, you might decide to incorporate certain design elements into your new garage door: windows, certain panel shapes and structures, and even color.
Beyond freshening up the way your home looks, replacing a garage door can also be a good way to avoid future repairs. Instead of worrying about when an old door might stop working, you can be confident that your home is safe and secure with a newer model.
4. Use plants to add shape, color, and texture.
If you only have a weekend or two and a limited budget to work with, landscaping could be your best option. Before you begin adding new plants, step back and look at your property, paying close attention to the heights and lines you see. For example, does your home have horizontal hedges and a fence with horizontal slats? In that case, increasing visual variety with plants, flowers, and trees in different groupings can add much-needed dimension and contrast.
You can use taller shade trees as a background layer or a border, with large shrubs strategically placed for privacy if needed. Then, low shrubs and flowers can fill in the middle portions of your front yard, with grass and ground covers near patios and walkways.
5. Redesign your front porch.
For homeowners with a front porch or even those who wish they had one, working with a professional builder to renovate your porch will immensely help your house’s curb appeal. Replace old, damaged wood with something new, such as a high-quality composite that is built to last.
Then, bring in finishing touches such as colorful planters, new house numbers, and even a stylish welcome mat to complete the look.
Love Your Home with Help from Kline Exteriors
Are you ready to take on an exterior project that will give your home a fresh, welcoming look? From adding a custom-designed front porch to replacing outdated vinyl siding, there are so many ways to add curb appeal to the outside of your house.
As a leading provider of home exterior renovations in Ohio, Kline Exteriors is an expert in superior craftsmanship, quality construction, and beautiful designs. We have helped countless homeowners put a personalized touch on their homes, guiding each client through the process of exterior renovations and achieving exemplary results. We’ll consider your style, budget, and short- and long-term goals to help you make informed choices that you feel good about.
Our experienced and professional team is dedicated to making sure that you and your family truly love the place you call home. Contact Kline Exteriors today to learn more about how our Dundee home exterior renovation services can be the key to creating curb appeal and turning your home into a showstopper.